pleasure.’
I followed him around. The place was impressive. And ostentatious. I exclaimed over the elaborate chandeliers and cooed over the soft furnishings. I wasn’t expecting to see the gem on display, of course, but there was bound to be a safe somewhere. I strolled over to a large painting of two hunting dogs gazing up at a bird of prey.
‘Beautiful artwork,’ I said as I tried to work out whether it was a front for a wall safe.
‘It’s not really to my taste,’ he said. ‘Come on. I’ll show you the bedrooms.’
I trailed after him, hoping it was clear that this was a tour and nothing else. Fortunately, after the little show of power in the lift, he was now on his best behaviour. He pointed out the vast bed and the modern painting hanging above it, as well as the ensuite. His tone remained neutral. Thank goodness.
We were returning to the main living room area when I saw it. One of the vast wardrobe doors was open less than an inch and, nestled there inside like a gift from the gods, was a safe. My stomach flipped. Bingo. I could feel my skin prickling in anticipation. Now I was getting somewhere.
‘Do you mind if I use your bathroom?’ I asked.
Byron grinned at me. ‘Be my guest. You can use the ensuite or there’s another one to your left, next to the second bedroom.’
As tempting as it was to scoot back to Byron’s own bedroom and see what I could make of the safe, I wasn’t stupid enough to burn all my bridges just yet. I gave him a rueful smile, suggesting that I wasn’t brave enough to venture back into his bedroom, and pointed to the other bathroom. I received a lazy smirk in return.
‘Don’t be long.’
My stomach flipped again. Goddamnit. The sensation was because I was so close to my goal, I told myself. It had nothing to do with the smoky look in his eyes or the rasp in his voice. I did not want Byron Moncrieffe. I wanted the freaking Lia Saifire. Everything depended on it.
I shut the bathroom door and carefully locked it, then leaned against and put my hand to my forehead. This was a job, like any other. It was time to stop acting like an idiot and start being more professional. Byron was ripe for the picking; everything he’d done up till now had proven that. I knew where the Lia Saifire was. I was on easy street. I just had to remember that.
I opened my bag. Bob grinned at me and gave a little wave. ‘Hey! How’s it going?’
‘Get back into your blade,’ I growled. ‘I don’t have time for this.’
He pouted. ‘Aw, come on, Uh Integrity! Where are we?’ He pulled himself up, peered over the edge of the bag and gave a low whistle. ‘Damn, girl! This is seriously posh! High living!’
‘Bob,’ I said through gritted teeth, ‘so help me God, if you don’t get back into your blade and give me some peace I’m going to throw you out the window.’
He stuck out his tongue. ‘I already told you, you can’t get rid of me that easily. Not any more.’
‘Maybe not. But it’ll still hurt when you hit the ground. And keep your voice down.’
‘Why? Are you playing hide and seek? I love hide and seek! I’m so good at it! Let me join in.’ He began jumping up and down, making the bag bounce. ‘Come on. Let me join in!’
I gave him the nastiest look I could muster. He sighed dramatically. ‘You’re really mean.’
‘That’s right,’ I told him. ‘I really am. Now shut the hell up and get into that blade.’
He pulled another face. ‘You didn’t say I wish.’
‘Bob…’
He retreated. ‘Fine, fine. Honestly. Women!’
I covered my eyes as he flashed back in. Relieved that he was doing as he was told, I rummaged around for my lipstick and quickly unscrewed the bottom of the tube. Two small white tablets fell out. I palmed them quickly. Byron might be Sidhe but these babies were enough to knock out an ox. They were harmless enough, though. He’d wake up in the morning with a sore head – by which time I’d be well away.
After flushing the
I followed him around. The place was impressive. And ostentatious. I exclaimed over the elaborate chandeliers and cooed over the soft furnishings. I wasn’t expecting to see the gem on display, of course, but there was bound to be a safe somewhere. I strolled over to a large painting of two hunting dogs gazing up at a bird of prey.
‘Beautiful artwork,’ I said as I tried to work out whether it was a front for a wall safe.
‘It’s not really to my taste,’ he said. ‘Come on. I’ll show you the bedrooms.’
I trailed after him, hoping it was clear that this was a tour and nothing else. Fortunately, after the little show of power in the lift, he was now on his best behaviour. He pointed out the vast bed and the modern painting hanging above it, as well as the ensuite. His tone remained neutral. Thank goodness.
We were returning to the main living room area when I saw it. One of the vast wardrobe doors was open less than an inch and, nestled there inside like a gift from the gods, was a safe. My stomach flipped. Bingo. I could feel my skin prickling in anticipation. Now I was getting somewhere.
‘Do you mind if I use your bathroom?’ I asked.
Byron grinned at me. ‘Be my guest. You can use the ensuite or there’s another one to your left, next to the second bedroom.’
As tempting as it was to scoot back to Byron’s own bedroom and see what I could make of the safe, I wasn’t stupid enough to burn all my bridges just yet. I gave him a rueful smile, suggesting that I wasn’t brave enough to venture back into his bedroom, and pointed to the other bathroom. I received a lazy smirk in return.
‘Don’t be long.’
My stomach flipped again. Goddamnit. The sensation was because I was so close to my goal, I told myself. It had nothing to do with the smoky look in his eyes or the rasp in his voice. I did not want Byron Moncrieffe. I wanted the freaking Lia Saifire. Everything depended on it.
I shut the bathroom door and carefully locked it, then leaned against and put my hand to my forehead. This was a job, like any other. It was time to stop acting like an idiot and start being more professional. Byron was ripe for the picking; everything he’d done up till now had proven that. I knew where the Lia Saifire was. I was on easy street. I just had to remember that.
I opened my bag. Bob grinned at me and gave a little wave. ‘Hey! How’s it going?’
‘Get back into your blade,’ I growled. ‘I don’t have time for this.’
He pouted. ‘Aw, come on, Uh Integrity! Where are we?’ He pulled himself up, peered over the edge of the bag and gave a low whistle. ‘Damn, girl! This is seriously posh! High living!’
‘Bob,’ I said through gritted teeth, ‘so help me God, if you don’t get back into your blade and give me some peace I’m going to throw you out the window.’
He stuck out his tongue. ‘I already told you, you can’t get rid of me that easily. Not any more.’
‘Maybe not. But it’ll still hurt when you hit the ground. And keep your voice down.’
‘Why? Are you playing hide and seek? I love hide and seek! I’m so good at it! Let me join in.’ He began jumping up and down, making the bag bounce. ‘Come on. Let me join in!’
I gave him the nastiest look I could muster. He sighed dramatically. ‘You’re really mean.’
‘That’s right,’ I told him. ‘I really am. Now shut the hell up and get into that blade.’
He pulled another face. ‘You didn’t say I wish.’
‘Bob…’
He retreated. ‘Fine, fine. Honestly. Women!’
I covered my eyes as he flashed back in. Relieved that he was doing as he was told, I rummaged around for my lipstick and quickly unscrewed the bottom of the tube. Two small white tablets fell out. I palmed them quickly. Byron might be Sidhe but these babies were enough to knock out an ox. They were harmless enough, though. He’d wake up in the morning with a sore head – by which time I’d be well away.
After flushing the
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